Incarcerated in Body, Free in Mind
In ‘Freedom’s Plow’ Langston Hughes writes "when a man starts to build a world, he starts first with himself." These were the words that sprung to mind when visiting the Muharam Sisters Education Centre in Ikoyi Prison. Within this large, single classroom a number of inmates are laying the foundations for better worlds. The men there, pupils and teachers alike, are all wards of the state and though they vary in literacy, looks and age they all share the same arrant desire for knowledge. More inspiring than this though is the inviolable belief they have, in their right to a better life and a second chance.
Introduced by David Omololu Aiyeolu, ZODML’s acting Head of Projects, I was asked to speak a little about ZODML and its vision (a Nigeria in which everyone can educate and empower themselves). Even now as I write, what stays with me are the eyes of the 20 or so men who sat before me; focused and bright, these were eyes that looked into, as opposed to at, me. One gets a strange sensation when they realize that they have the unwavering attention of a group. Once my speech is concluded the class’ level of interactivity made it patently clear that my message, that of ZODML’s, had resonated with them. This though would pale in comparison to the manner in which they’d take to the initiative we had come to pitch.
Hughes’ poem continues: “a community of hands to help. Thus the dream becomes not one man’s dream alone, but a community dream.”
Commencing this year is ZODML’s Mobile Library project. As explained to the class by ZODML’s Operations Chief Mark Oiseoghaede the project seeks to bring the library to those beyond our present catchment area. Education is a right that individuals must demand, and it should not, nay, cannot be denied because of geography or one’s status in society. This is what was impressed upon the class at Muharam Sisters and this is kernel node of the Mobile Library project. The project seeks to make weekly trips to Local Government primary schools and prisons, offering a wide and diverse selection of books to pupils and inmates.
The service at Ikoyi prison has started as a sort of pilot and by providing books ranging from novels to advanced textbooks for inmates on National Open University of Nigeria courses we hope to help deepen the teaching and learning at the Muharam Sisters Education Centre. To say that one was greatly encouraged by the class’ response to this would be an understatement. The rate and frequency with which the men asked questions was astonishing: aside from whether or not we had basic learning texts one asked if we had The Communist Manifesto; another Nelson Mandela’s Conversations with Myself.
Some wanted books on script writing, others on etiquette because “people just don’t know how to behave.” The entire experience was enlightening, bitterness does not reside within those classroom walls, just hope; hope in its most contagious and primitive form.
These men incarcerated in body but free in mind left an indelible impression on my colleagues and me; we left with renewed vigour and firm determination to bring the project to life and to make that community dream a reality. Knowledge is a tree, forever growing and providing shelter; that tree is for everybody.
This piece was originally posted on February 11, 2012.
